17 July 1807

Scotch Reform

23

Letter V

Ch.3. Bonâ fide Appeals

But setting aside the door opened for an evasion of a clause, a bad one I am ready to admitt, of the Act of Union, a design which whether entertained or no I do not see avowed - in this extraordinary Lord I can see neither more nor less than a Judge who in a line of jurisdiction with which he is less conversant and for which he is so far at any rate less fit is set to direct and give a lead to the proceedings of that Court the business of which consists in reversing or modifying the decisions pronounced by Judges more conversant with the business than himself.

What I do not pretend to say is that the difference, whatever it may be in disfavour of the Chamber of Review, is such as to present any very determinate or formidable ground for apprehension: all I mean to say, and that I do mean to say is - that the existence of this new Court does not present any better chance for rectitude of decision than what would exist without it.